DC8 pilot descended below assigned altitude while in turn.

Attributes
ACN	433350
Time
Date	199904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 17800 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	433350
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During descent for approach to cvg, I was given a radar vector turn. The turn was finished at the same time I reached the leveloff altitude. During the rollout, I inadvertently descended about 300 ft below assigned altitude. Rolling out on heading distracts attention from the altitude to the extent that none of the 3 crew members noticed the deviation until the altitude alerter sounded.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8 PLT DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT WHILE IN TURN.

Narrative: DURING DSCNT FOR APCH TO CVG, I WAS GIVEN A RADAR VECTOR TURN. THE TURN WAS FINISHED AT THE SAME TIME I REACHED THE LEVELOFF ALT. DURING THE ROLLOUT, I INADVERTENTLY DSNDED ABOUT 300 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT. ROLLING OUT ON HDG DISTRACTS ATTN FROM THE ALT TO THE EXTENT THAT NONE OF THE 3 CREW MEMBERS NOTICED THE DEV UNTIL THE ALT ALERTER SOUNDED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.